Now is the time to enter The European Social Innovation Competition

Apply now and win 50,000 euros to make the world a better place

Applications to the 2021 edition of the European Social Innovation Competition: Challenge Prize are now open. The competition in memory of social innovation pioneer Diogo Vasconcelos gives each year three €50,000 prizes for the best socially innovative projects designed to change the world for the better.

It is run by the European Commission, with the support from the EIC across all EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries.

Each year the Competition addresses a different issue facing Europe called ‘a challenge’. This year, this is SKILLS FOR TOMORROW – Shaping a green and digital future. Learn how to apply.

How to win funding for social innovation?

This Competition aims to incentivise, support and reward social innovations that will help people and organisations to identify, develop and strengthen the skills they will need to adapt and thrive in a changing world. The Competition is looking for early-stage ideas that tackle these needs in a range of different ways. From innovative solutions that identify skills needs and gaps to skills development approaches, including but not limited to training.

The 2021 edition of the Competition, ‘Skills for tomorrow’ is looking for scalable social innovations that will contribute to job creation, growth and European competitiveness by helping people, businesses and industries identify, develop and strengthen the skills that will power the European economy’s green and digital future.

The Competition is open to early stage ideas that tackle challenges relating to the transition to either, or both, futures including but not limited to identifying and mapping skills gaps as well as approaches to development and training that will support people to reskill or upskill.

All solutions must work towards sustainability, taking into consideration their own environmental impact.

For this yearly competition, 3 prizes will be awarded to the applicants who, in the opinion of the jury, best address the following cumulative criteria:

• Degree of Innovation - the degree to which any new product, service or model addresses unmet needs more effectively. The idea must be new and innovative within its given socio-economic and geographical context
• Impact - the potential of the proposal to tackle the competition challenge. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed solution will contribute to solving the challenge
• Sustainability - the financial and environmental sustainability of the proposal
• Scalability and replicability - the idea's potential to scale and be replicated, be it at regional, national, European or global level

The applicant must be a legal entity located in one of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Ideas and proposals from all sources, sectors and all types of organizations including for-profit, non-for-profit, or private companies are welcome.

The deadline for submissions is 12:00 (CEST) on 12 May 2021. All applications must be submitted directly to the Competition’s website.